Graham Norton is no stranger to great wine, but this harvest season, he took his passion a step further and joined Invivo Wines’ Cofounders Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron in Marlborough, New Zealand to experience the winemaking process firsthand.
Graham rolled up his sleeves in the sunny Awatere Valley, getting hands-on with grape picking, tasting juice samples, and assessing fruit quality with his long-term Invivo winemaker partners – an essential step in crafting the next, twelfth vintage of his GN Sauvignon Blanc.
“New Zealand produces some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, in my opinion. It’s incredible to think that what began as a small, limited-edition run of GN New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has grown into a global brand. Now, here we are harvesting grapes in Marlborough for our twelfth vintage! I don’t just put my name to the wines – I’m involved in the process, which makes being here in this stunning region for harvest all the more special,” says Graham Norton.
The long-standing partnership between Graham and Invivo began in 2014 with a single New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and has since evolved into an internationally acclaimed wine and spirits portfolio, now including ten products and more than 300 accolades. Today, GN Wines is a top-selling brand and commercial success in multiple markets, including the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and Japan.
“Graham has always been hands-on – he personally tastes, blends, and signs off on every vintage with us to ensure his favourite wine is made to his exact taste preferences,” says Invivo Cofounder and Winemaker Rob Cameron. “To welcome him to our vineyard and experience the magic of Marlborough firsthand was a real highlight for all of us.”
The visit culminated in a winemaker’s lunch at Harvest Restaurant in Rapaura, where Graham, Tim, and Rob were hosted by the Mayor of Marlborough and local growers to celebrate the Marlborough region’s wine and food produce.
Guests dined on a seasonal menu featuring Mills Bay Mussels, New Zealand King Salmon, Pinoli Pine Nuts and local Cranky Goat Cheese. During the event, the Mayor Nadine Taylor presented Graham with the first-of-its-kind ‘Grape Ambassador’ Award, recognising his long-term advocacy for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the brand’s global success.
“It was my great pleasure to host Graham in Marlborough and award him the title of Official Marlborough Grape Ambassador. Graham is not only a legend and high-profile broadcaster and writer, he is also the world’s greatest advocate for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a lot like Graham himself – vibrant and refreshing with razor-sharp acidity!” – Mayor of Marlborough, Nadine Taylor.
GN Sauvignon Blanc is available in grocery retailers, wine and liquor shops and bars and restaurants throughout New Zealand – ask for it where all good wine is sold.
For More Information Visit – https://invivowines.com/product/graham-norton-sauvignon-blanc-2024/
Global Growth & Success
Since its launch, GN Wines and Spirits has grown into a powerhouse global brand, with commercial success in key markets, including the UK, where Graham Norton Sauvignon Blanc was the fastest-growing major brand in the category in 2024, with sales up 396% year on year*. In 2024, a glass of GN wine was enjoyed every two seconds by Brits.
In Ireland, GN Wines is now a Top 20 Wine Brand with GN Sauvignon Blanc sales alone rising 47% YOY in 2024. Across the USA, GN Wines continue to gain momentum, with sales increasing by 28% (MAT, 28 Feb 2025).
About Invivo Wines
Founded in 2008 by two school friends Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, Invivo is often referred to as New Zealand’s most innovative winery. They’re the team behind game-changing initiatives like Invivo Air – the world’s first winery airline; and two successful crowdfunding campaigns makes Invivo the largest crowdfunded beverage company in the Southern Hemisphere.
Invivo operates two wineries in Te Kauwhata and has long-term award-winning collaborations with Graham Norton and Sarah Jessica Parker, who are shareholders in the business. Invivo wines have received over 350 international wine show medals and are exported to 43 countries from the Waikato. https://invivowines.com/
About Graham Norton
Across his illustrious career, Graham has won nine BAFTA awards including Best Entertainment Performance and Best Entertainment Programme, a National Television Award in 2023, plus a Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards in 2017.
Alongside presenting 32 series of the iconic The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, Graham has commentated for the UK on the Eurovision Song Contest since 2009, co-hosting the show from Liverpool in 2024, and winning an RTS Award. He can also be seen as a regular judge on all series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
More recent shows include Last One Laughing Ireland for Amazon Prime, and Wheel of Fortune for ITV. In recent years, Graham also hosted the Graham Norton Book Club podcast on Audible.
Graham is the author of five novels and two memoirs, winning numerous awards and gaining bestseller status. To date, foreign rights to Graham’s fiction have sold in over 10 countries. His latest novel, Frankie, which was published in September 2024, became a Sunday Times Bestseller and won the Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards.